Education

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)

Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

 

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, gives an overview of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s omnibus education package on Jan. 31, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Education package with multitude of policy changes and no BSA increase unveiled by Gov. Dunleavy

Proposals include allowing students to enroll anywhere in the state, more charter and homeschool support.

 

Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Bill making big increase to BSA receives overwhelming early support

“It feels like this gives us hope.”

 

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé students, along with a handful of state legislators and staff members, march from the school to the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in a protest seeking more state funding from lawmakers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska students rank 51st among 53 U.S. jurisdictions in 3 of 4 categories in annual ‘Nation’s Report Card’

Dunleavy administration says it shows failure of public schools, other say it reflects lack of funds.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé students, along with a handful of state legislators and staff members, march from the school to the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in a protest seeking more state funding from lawmakers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A sign at Thunder Mountain Middle School was changed in January 2025 from Thunder Mountain High School to reflect the Juneau School District consolidation that officially took effect July 1, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska House bill raising education funding more than 40% over three years gets first hearing Monday

Juneau school leaders say they’ve done their part, Legislature now needs to uphold state constitution.

A sign at Thunder Mountain Middle School was changed in January 2025 from Thunder Mountain High School to reflect the Juneau School District consolidation that officially took effect July 1, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska senators outline key priorities in the opening day of the 34th Legislature

An increase to the Base Student Allocation and in resource development among coming proposals.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Jenny Thomas, a parent of a student at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, testifies on school safety concerns at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

High school fights in Juneau beginning to decline, but parents want more action

Juneau Board of Education hears requests for their members to be leaders in school safety.

Jenny Thomas, a parent of a student at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, testifies on school safety concerns at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District not impacted by nationwide PowerSchool data breach

The Juneau School District was notified on Friday by PowerSchool, the company that provides its student information system, that the company experienced a potential national… Continue reading

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Nicole Herbert, director of account services for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, address the district’s school board during a Dec. 3 meeting. She is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District in March. (Screenshot from Fairbanks North Star Borough School District YouTube video)

School district’s new financial officer coming from Fairbanks district with its own consolidation woes

Nicole Herbert scheduled to start 12 days before Juneau’s school board sends budget to Assembly.

Nicole Herbert, director of account services for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, address the district’s school board during a Dec. 3 meeting. She is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District in March. (Screenshot from Fairbanks North Star Borough School District YouTube video)
Karen Brewer-Tarver, a partner with the Juneau-based accounting firm Elgee Rehfeld, presents results from a third-party audit of the Juneau School District for past fiscal year to the Juneau Board of Education’s Finance Committee on Thursday night. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)

Positive ending: School district emerges from fiscal crisis with first audit without a deficit in years

Report finds lingering problems with “internal controls,” recommends more staff and refining procedures.

Karen Brewer-Tarver, a partner with the Juneau-based accounting firm Elgee Rehfeld, presents results from a third-party audit of the Juneau School District for past fiscal year to the Juneau Board of Education’s Finance Committee on Thursday night. (Screenshot from Juneau School District livestream)
Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

False citations show Alaska education official relied on generative AI, raising broader questions

Commissioner Bishop said documents a first draft, appeared on state’s website due to technical error.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is seen on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A steady procession of vehicles and students arrives at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Reported surge of student fights — some filmed and luring kids from other schools — alarm parents and officials

Fights taking place on and off JDHS campus, students say; questions about discipline policy raised.

A steady procession of vehicles and students arrives at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey (right), with his son Emil Mackey IV between them, listen to a presentation during a school board retreat at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Saturday, Sept 28. Recall votes for both board members are failing in the initial vote tally in this year’s municipal election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board that made lots of changes appears it will remain the same after election

Three incumbents leading by large margins; recall petitions against two members failing

Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey (right), with his son Emil Mackey IV between them, listen to a presentation during a school board retreat at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Saturday, Sept 28. Recall votes for both board members are failing in the initial vote tally in this year’s municipal election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Part of the city of Hoonah’s waterfront is seen in a 2012 photo. (Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development; Division of Community and Regional Affairs’ Community Photo Library)

Ousted Hoonah superintendent seeks damages in Alaska district court

The former Hoonah City School District superintendent has filed a complaint against the local school board over a conflict with its president that allegedly led… Continue reading

Part of the city of Hoonah’s waterfront is seen in a 2012 photo. (Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development; Division of Community and Regional Affairs’ Community Photo Library)
Elizabeth Djajalie, a Juneau resident attending Harvard University, explains the science of DNA metabarcoding, in a video at the Mendenhall Glacier for the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Challenge. (Screenshot from video by Elizabeth Djajalie)
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TMHS grad Elizabeth Djajalie among 30 global contenders in $400,000 Khan Academy Challenge

Award includes $250K scholarship to winner, $50K for a teacher and $100K for high school STEM lab.

Elizabeth Djajalie, a Juneau resident attending Harvard University, explains the science of DNA metabarcoding, in a video at the Mendenhall Glacier for the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Challenge. (Screenshot from video by Elizabeth Djajalie)
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Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024, the first day of class for the current school year. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Consolidated schools during first month of classes are great, awful or illegal, depending on who’s asked

Superintendent offers praise; teachers fret about class sizes; TMMS students forced to repeat classes.

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024, the first day of class for the current school year. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Homeless students in Alaska, nationally could lose access to added aid

Congress asked to give states more time to spend designated money, advocates say it may be too late.

The halls are lined with lockers and portraits of elders at the Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12, 2023. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)

Standardized test scores at some Juneau schools far higher than others

Math, science proficiency at Auke Bay elementary roughly twice Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen’s, for example.

Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)
A sign outside posted on July 20, 2024, outside of Kincaid Elementary School advertises job openings in the Anchorage School District. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Teacher recruitment and retention bill becomes law in Alaska without Gov. Dunleavy’s signature

Lawmakers say “small tweaks” to policy can attract and keep more teachers in Alaska’s classrooms.

A sign outside posted on July 20, 2024, outside of Kincaid Elementary School advertises job openings in the Anchorage School District. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
School buses arrive at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus on Thursday morning as Montessori Borealis Public Alternative School begins its 33rd annual “Wisdom Day.” (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

More space for alternative programs celebrated through song at Dzantik’i Heeni on the first day of school

Three schools in new location see increased enrollments, Montessori continues traditional welcome.

School buses arrive at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus on Thursday morning as Montessori Borealis Public Alternative School begins its 33rd annual “Wisdom Day.” (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)